Fullbackers to host Legacy Night; will develop football Hall of Honor

The Wellington Fullbackers, a group dedicated to honoring Wellington's football heritage and supporting the present teams, will be hosting a Legacy Night steak fry on Saturday Oct. 10.

"We're hoping to stir up interest, to draw interest from former players. We'd like to start building this, make it a larger annual event," Fullbackers president Scott Jerousek said. "Wellington's football tradition has been built by its players, coaches, and fans. We would like to recognize all of the people who have had a part in building the legacy of Wellington football."

The Fullbackers are instituting a Wellington Football Hall of Honor to recognize the players, coaches and fans that have been an integral part of Wellington's football heritage. The group will be accepting nominations for the inaugural inductees through June, 2010. Those included in the Hall of Honor will be awarded a ring and recognized with a plaque that will be mounted at the high school.

"We want to include not only players, but everyone that has been a part of supporting the football teams over the years," Jerousek said. "Ray Church has raised the flag at the football games for 40 years, so we want to include him."

Legacy Night is a kick-off for the Hall of Honor program and will be an evening dedicated to bringing together everyone who loves Wellington football. Tickets are $20, and include a steak dinner, Chinese auction, 50/50 raffle, and lots of facts and discussion about football players and games.

The Wellington Fullbackers includes several people who attend meetings, volunteers who help with projects, and four officers - Jerousek, vice president Greg Eschedor, secretary Don Bliss, and treasurer David Bealer. The group hosts a youth football camp in the summer, runs The Gridiron Grill at home football games, purchases equipment and uniforms for the football teams, and assists in sending high school football players to skill camps.

The Fullbackers are providing $8,500 for the reconstruction of the football practice field. This fall, they are adding drainage, running water and electric lines, and crowning the field. In the spring, they will grade the field and seed the area with grass.

To purchase tickets or for more information about Legacy Night or the Fullbackers, contact Jerousek at 213-7972. Tickets can also be bought at Farm & Home Hardware.